Ratchet-clamp for car-replacers.



W. GAKLE; RATGHET GLAMP FOR GAR REPLACEES.

' APPLICATION FILED DEO. 5, 1908.

Patented Dee. 7, 1909.

WILLIAM GAKLE,

0F CHICAGO,

ILLINOIS.

RATCHET-CLAMP FOR CAR-REPLACERS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VILLIAM GAKLE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Ratchet-Clamps forCar-Replacers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in ratchet clamps for carreplacers and has among its salient objects to provide a construction inwhich a car replacer of any well known type may be clamped to the railby a simple ratchet or step-up mechanism; to provide a ratchet clamp ofthe above character which ts closely around the rail and replacer, drawsthem together and then automatically locks them rigidly in clampedposition; to provide a construction in which a maximum leverage may besecured with minimum power and in which the operating parts may beshifted out of the way below the level of the replacer after the latterhas been clamped to the rail; to provide a construction which is adaptedfor use with either inside or outside replacers, and in which thevarious parts may be readily removed or replaced if necessary; toprovide a construction of the above character which is operated by meansof a simple hand lever which can be dropped below the level of the carafter the replacer is locked in position; and in general to provide asimple and durable construction of comparatively few parts of thecharacter referred to.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter described and moreparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of my inventionshown as applied to a ca r replacer and rail. Fig. 2 is an enlargedvertical sectional view of the same, the rail and replacer being shownin dotted lines. Fig. 3 is a top plan View of my ratchet clamp. Fig. etis a vertical sectional view of the device along the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Describing now my improved device and referring to the drawings 1designates as a whole a main body-casting of generally invertedtrough-shape comprising side supports 2-2, and a connecting cover member3 upon the top of which is a pair of ear like extensions 4 which serveas journal supports for an operating lever 5 hereinafter described. Theinner lower edges 0f the Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 5, 1998.

Patented Dec. 7, 1909.

Serial No. 466,057.

side members 2 are each provided with a rabbet-like seat 6 which isadapted to support and guide the reciprocating rack bar 7, the upperface of which is provided with a series of teeth 8 in the usual manner.The forward end of the rack bar is provided with an upwardly extendinghead 9 which is adapted to impinge against the face of a car replacer 10and draw the latter against the rail when the rack bar is reciprocatedrearwardly as will hereinafter appear. In order that the locking devicemay lit more closely around the rail and thus more eiiiciently lock thecar replacer to the latter, the side members 2 are cut away as shown at11 tov fit around the base of the rail, and the ears 1 are so shaped asto lit between the base and the tee of the rail.

In order to actuate the rack bar, I provide an operating lever 5pivotally mounted upon a journal pin 12 extending through the sides ofthe ears 4, which lever carries an actuating pawl 13 pivotally connectedto the lever as shown at 14 and adapted to engage the teeth S of therack bar.- As the lever is forced outwardly it will be .seen that therack bar will be stepped up thus drawing the car replacer 10 intoengagement with the rail. It may be here noted that the lever ispreferably detachably mounted between the ears 4 in order that it may bemore readily removed or replaced.

After the car replacer has been drawn into clamping engagement with therail through the action of the rack bar and pawl 13, I provide means forautomatically locking the latter in position. To this end a dog 16 isrigidly keyed to a journal pin or shaft 17 which is mounted between therear ends of the side members 2. One end of this shaft extends throughthe corresponding side member 2 and is provided with a handle 18 whichis so mounted as to cause the dog to drop downwardly into engagementwith the teeth of the rack bar by gravity. This handle, of course,serves to lift the dog out of engagement with the teeth when it isdesired to release the rack bar.

The operation of the device will be understood from the foregoingdescription, but may be briefly described as follows: After the replaceris in position, the clamping device is set on the opposite side of therail and the rack bar reciprocated beneath the latter so that the head 9is upon the outer side of the replacer. The main casting is then slippedup against the rail until the base of the latter enters the recess 11Whereupon the lever 5 is operated and the head 9 drawn into engagementWith the replacer. After the latter has been rigidly clamped against therail the lever is released Whereupon the dog automatically drops intoengagement With the rack bar and locks the latter against movement. ThepaWl 13 may then be lifted out 'of engagement With the teeth 8 and thelever lowered to the position shovvn in dotted lines in Fig. 2 in orderthat it may be entirely out of the Way of the car as the latter' ridesonto the rail. It is of course apparent that my invention is equallyadaptable With either inside or outside car replacers. lhen it isdesired to release the replacer the handle 18 is operated, lifting upthe dog 16 and releasing the rack bar. W'hile I have herein shown apreferred embodiment of my invention it is apparent that it may bevaried considerably in details of construction Without in any mannerdeparting from the spirit thereof. It is to be particularly noted thatthe head 9 may be so shaped as to be adapted for use with various kindsof replacers.

It is of course apparent that my device may be operated in a reversemanner, z'. e. with the head of the rack bar against the rail and thebody of the device against the replacer.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a ratchet clamp for car replacers, the combination With a mainbody, of a rack bar reciprocating therethrough and provided at one endWith a head adapted to engage a car replacer, an operating leverconnected to said main body, a pavvl carried by said lever and actuatingsaid rack bar,

and a dog pivotally mounted Within said main body and automaticallyengaging said rack bar to lock the latter.

2. In a ratchet clamp for car replacers, the combination With a mainbody casting, of a rack bar adapted to reciprocate therethrough, andprovided With a head for engaging a car replacer, means for actuatingsaid ratchet bar to clamp the replacer against the rail, and means forlocking said rack bar in clamped position.

3. In a ratchet clamp for car replacers, the combination with a mainframe adapted to engage the rail, of a rack bar reciprocatingtherethrough and provided With a head for engaging a car replacer, apavvl for stepping-up said rack bar, means for actuating said paWl, andmeans for locking said rack bar.

4. In a ratchet clamp for car replacers, the combination with a maincasting adapted to engage the rail, a rack bar reciprocatingtherethrough and provided With a head for engaging the car replacer,means for step ping-up said rack bar, and means for automaticallylocking said rack bar.

5. In a ratchet clamp for car replacers, the combination with a mainbody casting provided With a guide Way, of a rack bar reciprocating insaid guide Way, an operating lever pivotally mounted in said main body,an actuating pavvl carried by said lever, and a locking dog pivotallymounted in said main casting to automatically lock the rack bar in itsstepped-up position.

WILLIAM GAKLE.

'Witnesses Lois FORGE, F. L. BELKNAP.

